When a best friend asks you to attend their wedding on six weeks notice, you have to give an automatic yes? Well I did and that is how we ended up in Copenhagen on our FIRST international friends trip.
Jordan & I flew out on NYE and since it was business class for a last minute upgrade, we determined it was one of our better NYE! We flew through Heathrow again and flew into Copenhagen right before the airport was shut down for wind.
We explored Copenhagen on New Year's Day and saw many of the quintessential Danish sites during the bluster. The Nyhavn Street was as picturesque as you think, but it is just a big street and not a neighborhood. We got to see the city and how it has integrated old buildings with modern ones with excellent city planning. I loved the two mile pedestrian zone which we walked daily.
The next day I was on my own before anyone arrived and Jordan worked so I was my best tourist self. I went to the National Museum. This houses some of the BEST Viking artifacts in the world. It was fascinating to see how old these items were and yet some still reminiscent of the 1600s.
I also ventured to a few art museum's and quite enjoyed the comprehensive picture of Danish artist. (I am somewhat joking because luckily the number of artists is not overwhelming.) I also went to the Danish Jewish Museum and learn more about the saving of the Jewish population in WWII.
The next day we attended a wedding at the National Courthouse. Then I helped a Polish family throw a reception...
As most know, Hans Christian Andersen was from Denmark. In honor of his stories, there is a famous little mermaid statue at the end of town near the Sea. Oddly, it is not well known that there is a military park the statue is housed in. I got to see some of the army barracks, a windmill (?) and a beautiful church dedicated to WWII.
The day I took a bus ride to that park to see the statue, I also got to see the Changing of her Majesty's guard at Amalienborg Castle, tour the Rosenburg castle in town with the crown jewels and walk all of the pedestrian zone.
If Christiania was not adventurous enough for us, One of more adventurous things was to rent a hot tub on the sea in town...or at least I thought. The place was a mile from the bus stop in an industrial wasteland and the hot tub was not open so we had to sit in a sauna and jump in the fjord. This was a once in a lifetime moment and it was more special with our friends there cheering each other on!
On the last day, we rented a car and drove to Roskilde for the Viking Ship museum - the best one and one of a few, We also toured the Royal Cathedral. This is the town some of Thor’s lore is based on. The harbour was breathtaking and you could see where the water really shaped the small town.
Then we drove to Elsinore to see Hamlet’s castle or I mean the Kronborg Slot. In this harbor, sits the modern day Merman statue. You can also see Sweden from this castle.
This was also our first international friend trip. Being with some of our best friends in the world meant everything and made Denmark even more enjoyable!
I had dreamt of going to Copenhagen due to the world of fairytales and other novels, and it was quite a nice city. Sadly, Tivoli Gardens was closed so maybe we will go back. Hopefully as an introduction for the rest of Scandavia, but I am thinking twice of jumping in another fjord in January. Skol!
